Device for the support of articles



26, 1940- R. J. HOENIGSQBERG 2,222,665

DEVICE FOR THE SUPPORT OF ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1NOV. 26, 1940. J HOENIGSBERG 2,222,665

DEVICE FOR THE SUPPORT OF ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2RM S P'JW BY W Patented Nov. 26, ,1 940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

10 Claims.

My invention relates to means for supporting articles, particularly to acollapsible device for supporting articles of various kinds on counters,in show windows, in display cases, in homes, etc., furthermore, forsupporting a watch on a night table, note paper, etc.

One object of my invention is to provide a device for supportingarticles which consists of cardboard, metal or any other suitablematerial and which can be completely collapsed in order to facilitatetransport and storageand which can be easily opened when it is to beused.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible device forsupporting articles which can be inexpensively and simply manufacturedby bending off a strip of cardboard and flexibly connecting the variousparts of the device by folds thus enabling a collapsing and a reopeningof the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible device whichenables an attractive and convenient display of merchandise and whichdoes not damage any merchandise displayed however fragile or delicate itmight be since a smooth and also ornamental surface can be easilyobtained.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings several embodiments of my invention areshown.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a collapsible device for supportingarticles.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a device according to Fig. l.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a device according to Fig. 1 in asemi-collapsed position.

Fig.4 shows a side view of the same device in its completely collapsedposition,

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of the same deviceaccording to my invention; the device is shown in its opened posi- 45tion.

Fig. 6 shows in cross-section a device according to Fig. 5 in itscompletely collapsed position.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a third embodiment of a collapsibledevice according to my invention; the device is shown in its openedposition.

Fig. 8 shows in cross-section the device accord.

ing to Fig. 7 in its completely collapsed position.

55 Fig. 9 shows a cross-section of a fourth embodiment of a collapsibledevice according to my incording to Fig. 9 in its completely collapsedposition.

Figs. 1-4 but provided with an additional abutment to secure an articleto be supported in its position, and

Fig. .12 shows a cording to Fig. 11.

The preferred device forsupporting articles according to my inventionshown in Figs. -1 to 4 consists of a base part I, provided with anabutment 2, a rear wall 3, a supporting or displaying wall 4, a tongue!)and aslide 6. The connections between base part I, rear wall 3,supporting or displaying wall 4 and tongue 5 are flexible. The tongue 5consists of two sections 1 and 8 which are also flexible connected.Section I is attached to base part I. In the embodiment shown the wholedevice except slide 6 is made of a single strip of cardboard. The firstsection of this strip of cardboard forms the upper part 9 of the basepart I. Thestrip is then bent twice thus forming abutment 2, then it isbent to form the lower part I!) of base part I, then to form rear wall3,-then to form supporting wall 4 and finally it is bent to formsections 1 and B of tongue 5. In order to obtain flexible connectionsplan view of a device ac- Fig. 11 shows in side view a device similar toI between thevarious sections and walls, folds ll strip, can be adaptedto the particular purposes .for which the device is to be used, forinstance the cardboard can be covered with any ornamental material suchas colored ,paper, .tissue, leather, gilt, silver, etc.

When the device is not to be used or is to be shipped it is kept in itscollapsed position shown in Fig. 4. If it is to be opened, slide 6 isslid on rear wall 3 until it enters between tongue sections 1 and 8.Thereby tongue section 8 and with it supporting wall 4 are lifted andbrought into the position shown in Fig. 3. Slide 6 now begins to slideover tongue section 8 whereby this section is secured against base partI. A single operation of slide 6 is sufiicient to bring the device fromits collapsed position into its opened position and to secure itin thisposition. When the device is to be collapsed again it is necessary onlyto return slide 6 into its original position. Then it will releasetongue section 8 and gradually lower wall 3 until this wall and allother parts have again reached the position shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 very clearly illustrates the position of the various mentionedparts in the opened position of the device.

Any article I2 which is to be supported can be laid against supportingor displaying wall 4 as indicated in Fig. 1. The article will be safelysecured in its position by abutment 2.

Under certain circumstances it will be advisable to provide a hook I3 orsimilar means on wall 4 in order to secure an article to be displayed inits position.

In Fig. 5, supporting wall 4 .is continuedby a.

tongue I4 which is attached to a slide I; This slide can slide on basepart I. A second tongue I6 is attached to rear wall 3 with an extensionI1 by gluing or any other suitable means. Tongue I6 is flexiblyconnected with its extension IT. The connections between basepart I,rear wall 3, supporting wall 4 andtongue I4 are also flexible. The wholedevice preferably consists of a strip of cardboard which is bent offseveral times in order to form the various walls and sections as isclear- 1y shown in Fig. 5. Silde I5 and tongue I6 preferably, too,consist of cardboard. The flexible connections between the various partsare obtained by folds I8. The abutment 2 is also formed by suitablebending off of the cardboard. The lower part II) of the base part I isfirst bent off to a section I9 and then bent off again to an obliquewall 20 which forms an abutment for any article to be displayed on thedevice according to my invention and placed against supporting wall 4.Wall 20 is then continued into the upper part 9 of base part I.

Instead of cardboard, metal can be used. The surface of the device canbe adapted to the purposes in question as has been described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 5 shows the device in its opened position. Tongue I6 is presseddownward so that its end abuts against edge 2| of slide I5 or againstanother suitable part, for instance tongue I4. When the device is to becollapsed tongue I6 is turned upward in the direction indicated by arrowA. Slide I5 can now be slid on base part I whereby walls 3 and 4 aregradually brought into a prone position. Finally, they reach theposition shown in Fig. 6 in which tongue I I5 rests between walls 3 and4. If the collapsed device is to be opened again slide I5 is slid backinto the position shown in Fig. 5. Tongue I6 is then pressed downward inorder to secure slide I5 and walls 3 and 4 in their positions.

The device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is similar to the device shown inFigs. 5' and 6 with the exception that instead of a tongue attached towall 3, a tongue 22 is provided which is punched out of supporting wall4. The connection between wall 4 and tongue 22 is made flexible by meansof a fold 23. In the opened position of the device tongue 22 abutsagainst rear wall 3 thus securing the various walls of the device andslide I5 in their positions. In some cases it is convenient to provide aparticular abutment 24 for tongue 22.

If the. device is to be collapsed tongue 22 is lifted out of itsposition and slide I5 is slid on base part I in the direction indicatedby arrow B whereby walls 3 and 4 are gradually lowered into a proneposition. Finally the various parts reach the completely collapsedposition shown in Fig. 8.

The device can consist of cardboard provided with flexible folds, metalor any other suitable material. For the surface of the device anysuitable and ornamental material can be used as described in connectionwith the previous figures.

Figs. 9 and show a collapsible device in which a slide 25 is slid overbase part I and is attached to the lower. side of part II] of base partI. The upper section of slide 25 leaves a suflicient space for a tongue25 which is flexibly connected with supporting wall 4. Tongue 26 ends ina bead 21 by which tongue 26 is secured in its position if slippedbetween slide 25 and base part I.

In case shoes or similar articles are to be displayed a ledge 29 can beprovided which can be attached by extensions 28 to supporting wall 4.

- Fig. 9 shows how a shoe 30 is secured in its position by ledge 29. Inorder to make the display ofshoe 30 still more attractive supportingwall 4 can be covered with a mirror-like covering, 3|, for instancereflecting paper.

The use of ledge 29 and covering 31 is not limited to the deviceaccording to Figs. 9 and 10 but can be used in connection with allpreviously described embodiments of my invention or in connection withother embodiments according to my invention.

In the opened position of the device shown in Fig. 9 tongue 26 isslipped between slide 25 and part 9. Hereby the positions of supportingwall 4 and wall 3 are fixed since wall 4 abuts against slide 25 in thisposition of slide 25 as clearly shown in Fig. 9. When the device is tobe collapsed tongue 26 is simply slipped out of the slide and walls 3and 4 are brought into a prone position as shown in Fig. 10.. In thisposition all parts, including tongue 26, are extended. In order tosecure the various parts in this collapsed position tongue 26 can beslipped again under slide 25 as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The device can consist of cardboard which is so bent that the variousdescribed parts and walls are formed or it can consist of metal. In casemetal is used, the various parts must be connected by suitable hinges.The surface of the whole device can easily be adapted to the particularpurposes for which the device is to be used as described in connectionwith the previous figures.

The device shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is similar to the device shown inFigs. 1 to 4. However, two additional abutments 3I are provided. Each ofthem has a triangular recess 32. Abutments BI are secured by gluing orother suitable means to upper part 9 of the base part. These additionalabutments serve to hold an article such as 2. china dish 33 in itsposition if resting against supporting wall 4. As Fig. 11 shows, the rimof a dish 33 rests in recesses 32 thus securing the dish in itsposition.

My invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described butvarious changes can be made without departing from the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a base part,a rear wall flexibly connected with said base part, a supporting wallflexibly connected with said rear wall, said walls and said base partadapted to assume either a position substantially parallel to each otheror a stantially parallelto each other or a positionsubstantiallytriangular to each other, a slide slideable on said base part, a tongueflexibly connected with said supporting wall and attached to said slide,said slide being adapted to secure in substantially triangularto eachother, a'xtongue consisting of an innersection and an outerisection, aflexible connection'between said inner section and saidsupp'orting'wall, a flexible :connection between said inner section. andsaid outer 'sectiongsaid outer section being attached to said base'part,a. slide adapted .tobe slid over said inner tongue. section and tosecure in this position said inner tongue section against said base partwhere,- by said walls and said base part are held in their positionsubstantially triangular to each other, while in another position ofsaid slide said walls and said base part can be brought into theirparallel to each other position.

2. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a base part,an abutment provided on one end of said base part, a rear wall flexiblyconnected with the other end of said base part, a supporting Wallflexibly connected with said rear wall, a tongue consisting of an innersection and an outer section, said inner section flexibly connected withsaid supporting wall, said outer section attached to an intermediatepoint of said base part, a slide slideable on said base part and saidrear wall and adapted in a certain position to secure said inner sectionagainst said base part whereby said rear Wall is held in a substantiallyright angle to said base part and said supporting wall in an obliqueposition leading from the top of said rear wall to said intermediatepoint of said base part. v

3. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a strip ofcardboard bent off at one end to form a rear wall, bent off again toform a supporting wall, bent off again to form an inner section of atongue, bent ofi again to form an outer section of said tongue, saidouter section being attached to an intermediate point of said base part,folds provided between said various walls and sections of said strip toform flexible connections, a slide slideable on said base part and saidrear wall, said slide adapted to he slid over said inner tongue sectionthus securing said tongue section against said base part whereby saidrear wall is held in substantially a right angle to said base. part andsaid supporting wall in an oblique position leading from the top of saidrear Wall to said intermediate point of said base part.

4. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a strip ofcardboard bent off at one end to form an abutment, bent 01? at its otherend to form a rear wall, bent ofi again to form a supporting wall, bentofi again to form an inner section of a tongue, bent off again to forman outer section of said tongue, said outer section being attached to anintermediate point of said base part, folds provided between saidvarious walls and sections of said strip to form flexible connections, aslide slideable on said base part and said rear wall, said slide adaptedto be slid over said inner tongue section whereby said rear wall is heldin substantially a right angle to said base part and said supportingwall in an oblique position leading from the top of said rear wall tosaid intermediate point of said base part.

5-. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a base part,a rear Wall flexibly connected with one end of said base part, asupporting wall flexibly connected with said rear wall, an abutmentconnected with the other end of said base part and adapted to secure anarticle in its position on said supporting wall, said walls andpaid basepart adapted to assume a position subone position said walls and saidbase part in their position substantially triangular to each other, andin another position, in their position substantially parallel to eachother and to bring said walls gradually from one position into the otherwhen slid-on said base part.

' 6. A-collapsible devicefor supporting articles comprising a base part,a rear wall flexibly connected with one end of said base part, asupporting wall flexibly connected with said rear wall,

said walls and said base part adapted to assume a position substantiallyparallel to each other or a position substantially triangular to eachother, a slide slideable on said base part, a tongue flexibly connectedwith said supporting wall and attached to said slide, said slide beingadapted to secure in one position said walls and said base part in theirposition substantially triangular to each other, and in anotherposition, in their position substantially parallel to each other, and tobring said walls gradually from one position'into their other positionwhen slid on said base part and a second tongue attached to said rearwall and adapted to abut againstsaid slide if said slide is in aposition for securing said walls and said base part in their positionsubstantially triangular to each other.

7. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a base part,a rear wall flexibly connected with one end of said base part, asupporting wall flexibly connected with said rear wall, said Walls andsaid base part adapted to assume a position substantially parallel toeach other or a position substantially triangular to each other, a slideslideable on said base part, ,atongue flexibly connected With saidsupporting wall and attached to said slide, said slide being adapted tosecure in one position saidwalls and said base part in their positionsubstantially triangular to each other and in another position, in theirposition substantially parallel to each other, and to bring said wallsgradually from one position into their position when slid on said basepart, a second tongue punched out of said supporting wall and adaptedadapted to assume either a position substantially parallel to each otheror aposition substantially triangular to each other, a tongue flexiblyconnected with said supporting wall, a slide on said base part adaptedto secure said tongue in a certain position relative to said base partwhereby said walls and said base part are held in their triangular toeach other position.

9. A collapsible device for supporting articles comprising a supportingwall, a rear wall flexibly connected with said supporting wall, a basepart flexibly connected with said rear Wall, at least two abutments onsaid base part adapted to secure between them an article to be supportedon said supporting wall, said walls and said base part adapted toassumeeither a position substantially parallel to each other or a positionsubstantially triangular to each other, a tongue flexibly 'videdwith arecess adapted to receive an article to be supported on said supportingwall thus securing said article in its position, said walls and saidbase part adapted to assume either a position substantially parallel toeach other or a position substantially triangular to each other, atongue flexibly connected wtih said supporting wall, a slide on saidbase part adapted to secure said tongue in a certain position relativeto said base part whereby said walls and said base part 10 are held intheir position triangular to each other.

ROBERT J. HOENIGSBERG.

